Designing a small garden comes with unique challenges, but also big opportunities. Unlike sprawling landscapes, compact spaces require creativity, intention, and a bit more discipline. Every plant, path, and decorative touch matters. With the right approach, even the tiniest garden can feel lush, inviting, and full of personality. Here are some inspiring small garden ideas …
Landscaping
Backyard trees do more than drop leaves and block the sun from your laundry line. They’re also hangouts for mushrooms. Some of these fungi are quiet cleanup crews breaking down old wood. Others are slow-motion tree assassins. And a few just camp out, looking like something from a bad sci-fi movie. Most people don’t notice …
Dreaming of a beautiful yard without spending every weekend pulling weeds or deadheading flowers? You’re not alone. Whether you’re short on time, new to landscaping, or just want a space that feels peaceful and easy to care for, low-maintenance landscaping can give you that perfect balance of function and flair. From whimsical repurposed planters to …
Often chosen for the texture and autumn interest they add to the garden, ornamental grasses have many virtues. Some are tall, towering over most other garden plants, and serve as a visual anchor or a privacy screen. Others form low mounds, tucked in among bright flowers to add softness to the landscape. As you decide …
Gardening is supposed to be fun, but when it involves bags of synthetic fertilizer, weekend-long weeding sessions, and constant watering, it just feels like a third job that pays little with a boss you hate (until they finally give you a bonus in the form of veggies). If that’s how you’ve been gardening, SageSmokeSurvival on …
It might seem surreal with all the “stories” highlighting them, but the cottage look didn’t start on Instagram. It started in rural villages where people turned necessity into charm, mixing functional gardens with overgrown paths, weathered wood, and flowers that didn’t care about symmetry. Fast forward a few decades, and the cottage feel still works, …
Do you remember the first time you felt “grown-up” and independent? For me, it was the day I walked to a doctor’s office and explained what was hurting without my dad’s help. I didn’t realize what a turning point it was until my dad mentioned later how great a moment that was. I’m now sitting …
Fairy gardens are one of those rare projects that make you feel like the best parent ever and keep the kids busy long enough for you to finish a full coffee. TikTok creator @beksmarden made one, then made another after moving—because you can leave the coffee maker behind, but not the fairy garden. This project …
Lawns (aka a lush carpet of green grass) used to be the default choice for yards. All you needed was Dad driving a lawn mower on them on Saturday morning, and you got yourself a neat patch of HOA-approved Bermuda grass. That may be true, but it’s also true that a basic lawn doesn’t provide …
Whether you live in southern Florida or get buried in the snow every winter, you may dream of having a tropical oasis in your backyard. Of course, this will be easier to implement if you live further south, but even those of us in areas that experience freezing temperatures can bring a bit of the …